Kerrville shelter dog becomes San Antonio veteran’s...

When San Antonian Alessandra Schweers, a Navy veteran, left the military with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), she was having severe panic and anxiety attacks, which was making civilian life difficult to maneuver.

A part-time worker and full-time nursing student and mom to a 4-year-old, she couldn’t afford to have setbacks. She wondered if a service dog might help her regain her confidence and emotional balance.

She contacted the Veteran Assistance (VA) Dogs of Texas, a nonprofit in Kerrville that trains service dogs to assist the lives of disabled Texas veterans suffering from physical disabilities, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD and more. After an assessment, Schweers was eventually paired with Kota, a young shepherd mix discovered at a Kerrville animal shelter.

Most of the service dogs trained so far with VA Dogs of Texas have come from animal shelters.

“Trainers look for laid back and relaxed dogs who would much rather be with people than their own kind,” said Kathy Rider, director of training.

Every dog has a unique personality and even laid back and easy-going dogs don’t automatically make it as service dogs. Kota, though, definitely had service dog potential. After 12 months of training, he was chosen to be Schweers’ service dog.

Schweers said Kota has proven to be a lifesaver over the last few years.

“PTSD is an automatic nervous system response where you are immediately in fight or flight mode,” she said. “There must be some change to my blood pressure or blood chemistry when that happens, because Kota senses my attacks right before I have them and leans on me interrupting the process. He also sits between me and someone I might be afraid of. He anticipates these things and helps me recognize my triggers so I can learn to recognize them myself.”

Kota has developed a unique bond with Schweers.

“He helps get her out of the house to social settings as well as possesses a great ability to understand her emotions,” said Caleb Owens, trainer for Hill Country Dog Center and VA Dogs of Texas. “(Schweers’s) improved state of well-being with Kota, and his willingness to be by her side, shows true companionship.”

“The best thing about Kota is his soul and temperament,” Schweer said. “He’s loyal and consistent. Even when his vest is off, he’s always working. It’s not just a job for him. He loves me. As adults, that kind of loyalty and support can be difficult to find.”

The VA Dogs of Texas was awarded a $30,000 grant from the Petco Foundation to help it continue and expand its lifesaving work. They are not looking for dogs at this time, but you can make monetary donations by visiting vadogs.org or mailing a check to VA Dogs, 601 N. Spur 100, Kerrville, TX 78028.

Cathy M. Rosenthal has worked for both local animal shelters and national humane groups for more than 25 years. She also is a freelance writer for newspapers, magazines and nonprofit organizations, focusing solely on animal issues, pet behavior and the human/animal bond. Cathy is the author of several children's books on pet care.